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e uiten gisten` eieltt @fitte JAMES WOODRUFF, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

Lettere Patent No. 76,026. dated' Firm-e171 24, 186.8.

LETTER-BOX.

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"To ALL wHoM 1r MAY ooNonnN: t

Be it known that I, JAMnsE. WOODRUFF, of Bulalo, in the county ot' Erie, and in the State of New York,

have invented certain new and useiul Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact` description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters 0f reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Figure 1 v,represents a vertical section.

'Y Figure 2 represents a front view, with the lid A thrown'up.

My invention relates to that class of letter-boxes that are used upon lamp-posts, and other suitable places in the various parts of a city, for the Acollection of letters.

The main object of my invention is to construct a letter-box that will prevent the ingress of snow, rain, tc., and at the same .time thoroughly secure the packages dropped within from being purloined by persons so disposed.

'This box is madeof the usual form, and of any suitable metal, having an oblong opening in its top, C, through which the letters are to be dropped. The letter-opening C is protected' by'a lid, A, which is suitably hinged, and is provided with a small cam, B, at each side, which extends down a short distanceinto the box.

-These cams rest upon the forward endsof pivoted levers D, as shown in lig. l, said levers bein metal plates that are secured to each side of the box a slight distance below the top- The rear ends of these levers D are secured to rods E, which extend in anoblique manner toward the centre of the box, where they connect to the lower end of a plate, F, which also extends obliquely from 'the opposite side of the box. This plate is suitably liingcd'nt its top, and extends from oneside of the boxl to the other, thereby closing one-half` ofthe interior spa-ce of the box. v

Directly opposite this hinged plate is a'stationary plate, G, which is bent at its lower end, as shown, so `that whenever the plate F is drawn up to it, it (plate F) will' bearagainst the shoulder thus formed, and eiectually close the space and eut oit` communication to the lower part of the box. The stationary plate may bein the forward part ot' the box, and the hinged plate may be in the rear portion, thus reversing their present positions.

The box herein represented is provided with a door, I,'in its front, 'which is 'fastened by a latch, K, and padlock, E', the top being shielded by a bent metal plate, H.

My invention can readily be applied to the letter-boxes now in use.

In the annexed drawings the red lines at e show where the ordinary boxes are hinged; a: showing where the i'ront of the lid is connected to the box; y representinga band which attaches the lever, D, to the lid,

Iinstead of having it pivoted, so that when the lid is opened by the carrier, the levers, rods, and plate F- rise up lwith it.

Itwill be seen that by-,means of the plates F and G there is a V-shaped receptacle formed in the upper portieri of the box, and when the lid A'is down that a small `throat or passage-way is left between these plates for the letters to fallto the bottom ot' the box. -By raising the lid A, its'eams B, bearing upon the -front ends of the levers iD, force the rear ends; ofsaid levers upwards, thereby bringingT the rods, and with them the swinging plate F, up against the stationary plate G, thus closing thetbroat and preventing the insertion of a hand or stick, or anythingvelse, into the main portion oi' the box -where the letters are deposited.

` The red lines in the drawings showl the lid raised and the throat closed. 'When the lid is again forced down, the passageway is opened and the letter that has just been dropped into the box will fall to the bot` tom thereof. v

It will be understood that the lid A operates automatically, so that, afterv the letter is deposited and falls in the V-shaped receptacle, the lid drops and opens the throat to allow the letter to fall to thebottom.

, Having` thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The box A, with stationary plate G and hinged plate F, both .of which extend obliquely below the lid A,

and form a. V-shaped throat. which is opened or closed by the cam B attached to the cover A, lever D, and rod E, substantially inthe manner herein set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand, this 13th day of January, 1868.

l JAS. E'. WOODRUFF.

Witnesses:

C. M. ALEXANDER, J. M. MASON. 

